2026 NFL Season ~ Week Two

7 days ago

4 min read

Emmie and Canasta with Bob… offering up the Golden Choices

I told you. Early season is a nightmare. Let’s take a look at Canasta…

The Rams never arrived in Australia to even be competitive. The Lions look horrendous. The Packers are in disarray. The less said about the Chargers, the better. She picked the Cowboys.

That’s five games where the teams she selected were embarrassing, not her choices.

When we did this in 2024, Canasta showed an amazing ability to run extremely hot and bitterly cold. I’m expecting that gap between us all to close.

As to this week, I have to throw up the caution flag to everyone. Teams that looked good or bad in the first game do not always look the same in week two. And it takes the full month of September for some normalcy to arrive. (A bit.)

Time for brief analysis. Odds from USA Today. Let’s just dive in…

Detroit at Buffalo (-5)

After being an expectation-raising success in 2024, the Lions collapsed in 2025 to a disappointing 9-8 record. Keep in mind, that included going 2-4 to end the year, and looking awful in their win over the Saints last week.

The Bills are at home, following a solid victory on the road over the Texans. New Stadium is opening. I like Buffalo.

Bob: Buffalo

Emmie: Buffalo

Canasta: Detroit

Cincinnati at Houston (-2.5)

Not sure I like this game. At all. Bengals took care of Business against the Buccaneers. Texans looked a bit sloppy on defense against the Bills.

I’d feel better if Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase had done anything to dispel some late training camp concerns.

Bob: Houston

Emmie: Houston

Canasta: Cincinnati

Cleveland at Tampa Bay (-8.5)

Nothing to see here.

Bob: Tampa Bay

Emmie: Tampa Bay

Canasta: Tampa Bay

Pittsburgh at New England (-5)

In a game the Steelers should have won as a lopsided destruction, they turned in some mind-numbingly hideous offensive stats.

Something says New England arrives in this game ticked off and playing with a chip on their shoulders.

Bob: New England

Emmie: New England

Canasta: New England

Green Bay (-3.5) at New York (Jets)

If the Packers lose here, take down the tents and give up on the season.

(Of course, this is a game where you ask why they are even playing the game. Canasta will tell you how that worked out last week. Green Bay included in that observation.)

Bob: Green Bay

Emmie: Green Bay

Canasta: Green Bay

Carolina (-2.5) at Atlanta

Impossible to take either team seriously after week one.

Impossible.

Bob: Carolina

Emmie: Atlanta

Canasta: Carolina

Philadelphia (-7) at Tennessee

Ugh. An Eagles team on the road, after holding off the Commanders at home. Not an easy choice to make, because the Titans decided to make the Jets look good to open the year at home.

Bob: Philadelphia

Emmie: Tennessee

Canasta: Tennessee

New Orleans at Baltimore (-8.5)

I’m not picking the Saints over the Ravens. I am not picking the Saints over the Ravens.

Bob: Baltimore

Emmie: Baltimore

Canasta: New Orleans

Minnesota at Chicago (-4.5)

Geez, talk about a game that makes you wonder what good performances to trust in week two.

The Bears have an MVP candidate after the first outing of the year. The Vikings played a full game and delivered a massive hit to end the game.

I want to pick Chicago. I should pick Chicago. But there’s just something that believes Carson Wentz might be able to challenge for a longer run as a starter if he can get in a few wins in a row. I like that story. (And if you knew the story of the Vikings when they have a quarterback that can go all seventeen games, you might as well.)

Bob: Minnesota

Emmie: Minnesota

Canasta: Chicago

Jacksonville at Denver (-2.5)

Hated the way Denver opened the year. I expect better from them.

But not this week.

Bob: Jacksonville

Emmie: Denver

Canasta: Jacksonville

Las Vegas at Los Angeles (Chargers) (-6.5)

Hated the way the Chargers opened the year. Didn’t like it all. Didn’t like it so much that I can’t trust them to hold back Kirk Cousins if the Raiders just play a steady game.

Bob: Las Vegas

Emmie: Las Vegas

Canasta: Las Vegas

Washington at Dallas (-4)

Dallas was supposed to come into this game with swagger, week one victory in tow, and be heavily favored. Instead, they look more like the late-season Cowboys instead of the Prescott early-season Cowboys.

I’m taking the Redskins to be less volatile here.

Bob: Washington

Emmie: Dallas

Canasta: Dallas

Seattle (-3.5) at Arizona

The Seahawks did not look like a team heading toward a repeat title.

The Cardinals pulled the biggest upset of the week. The Cardinals are at home. And, the Cardinals have a Jacoby Brissett that has quietly played remarkably well from much of last season into this year.

Bob: Arizona

Emmie: Seattle

Canasta: Arizona

Miami at San Francisco (-13)

Step one, decide which team should win.

Step two, consider the spread.

Step three, reconsider the game, asking if the team that shouldn’t win has any chance to win.

The Dolphins have no chance.

Bob: San Francisco

Emmie: Miami

Canasta: San Francisco

Indianapolis at Kansas City (-6.5)

Uh oh, the Chiefs have figured out how to look impressive while Patrick Mahomes plays his way back into shape while only being average.

Bob: Kansas City

Emmie: Indianapolis

Canasta: Kansas City

New York (Giants) at Los Angeles (Rams) (-2.5)

Anyone think the Giants make it two straight?

Anyone?

Anyone expecting Aaron Donald to return and make week one a forgotten relic?

There you go.

Bob: Los Angeles

Emmie: Los Angeles

Canasta: Los Angeles

WEEK ONE RESULTS (AND CURRENT OVERALL)

Bob: 11-5

Emmie: 7-9

Canasta: 3-13